Research and development of selected components of the high-temperature reactor for process heat generation - results and their application

For the process heat supplying high-temperature reactor (PNP) a comprehensive research and development program was performed. Investigations in three fields of the program are reported: heat transfer, gas flow guidance components, and seismic properties of the core structure. Results are presented for the statistics of heat transfer in the core and for heat transfer under operational conditions of a PNP-plant. Further topics are cooling of the side reflector, hot gas mixing in the core bottom region, optimization of inlet flow into the steam generator, and flow tests on a large diameter shut-off valve. Performance tests on hot gas insulations in a special test facility are described as well as tests on connecting elements for coaxial ducts. The measured data on dynamic excitation of the pebble bed with the SAMSON test facility allow an analytical description of the pebble bed core with respect to seismic behaviour. The results of experiments and calculations, using the computer codes CRUNCH-1D and -2D, for seismic excitation of the suspended top reflector are discussed. The seismic tests will be completed in 1989 with the side reflector investigations. A comprehensive seismic verification will then be available. (orig.)